Chapter 8

Now, But Not Yet

When we understand the beauty and perfection of Eden, and how sin changed everything, we are forced to be consistent when we talk about good and bad, and right and wrong.

I had been listening to Rob’s sermon tape for about 40
minutes . . . and he was still on a roll. The fervency
and the certainty with which he spoke painted an
audible image of the brother I once had. It was very surreal.
He sounded like the Rob that I knew; he sounded
real, but I had to remind myself that the disease had by
now taken almost everything that he had been when the
sermon was recorded.

Rob had covered a lot of material in this one tape,
and the message was saturated with vibrant passion,
solid content, and practical application. He had covered
the issues of sin, answering with solid biblical support
the question that asked, “Why does suffering and death exist in a world with a good and loving God?” He had
investigated the issues of physical healing and the “normal”
course of human life in a fallen world . . . a course
that included the inevitability of sickness, suffering, and
death. He had expounded on the implications of Christ
and the Cross, illuminating how that perfect sacrifice of
God had paid the price for sin.

What a big difference when you can stand back and give
people a big picture of history, I thought. When we understand
the beauty and perfection of Eden, and how sin
changed everything, we are forced to be consistent when
we talk about good and bad, and right and wrong. Biblical
history clearly brings each individual to a point where
he or she must accept or reject the gospel. Each must
either receive Christ’s sacrifice and forgiveness, or turn
away from Him for eternity. Wow. What a difference a
truthful perspective makes. Rather than leading to fatalism
and despair, believing in the history of Genesis gives
us the foundation on which to build answers to these
most probing of human issues.

I have seen many Christian leaders on television
who have no solid answers to the questions surrounding
death and suffering. They’ve said things like, “You just
have to trust,” or “You just have to have faith. We don’t
know why these things occurred.” But you know why
I believe that they can’t give answers? It’s because they
don’t believe the Book of Genesis. They don’t believe
God’s Word as they should. They have been influenced
by the world so they don’t have this history that they
can use to explain sin to the world. And so they can’t
give answers. It is only those who believe the history
God has given to us (beginning in Genesis 1:1) who can
consistently explain how there can be a loving God and
death and suffering at the same time. As finite beings,
we can’t give ultimate and absolute answers in regard to
everything, but we can give answers that are consistent,
logical, rational, and defensible as we search the Scriptures
for solutions.

As Rob tried to conclude his sermon on the tape, I
smiled as he kept apologizing to the congregation because
his message was going overtime. Yes, he was sorry—but
not so sorry that he was willing to stop! He still had many
things to say and was unable to restrain the words that
were on his heart. They were words from the Word of
God that could bring hope and eternal perspective to his
church . . . and to us now years away from where he was.
His passion for the Bible again overflowed as he turned
his focus to the future. He began expounding on two
things: first, the things that are reality in our lives
(now that we are in Christ); and second, the things that
are not yet (the realities that await us on the other side of
the grave when all things are made new again).

With his customary flair for words, he described the
awkward balance in which we find ourselves as we navigate
through life somewhere between “the Fall” and the
coming “consummation” of history when Christ will return
and all things will be restored. He had covered past
history, explaining how we got to where we are in the
present. Now he was explaining coming history, instructing
how we are to move ahead, living out our place in the
biblical “big picture” as it spans toward the future.

Now: Healed from Sin

I firmly believe that if Rob could talk to us today,
he would tell us that he is restored and healed from the
worst disease: sin. When Christ was on earth, He carried
out great miracles, including wonderful physical healings
of sick people. As significant as those individual healings
were, Rob preached that “the Great Physician” had a
broader focus of restoration in mind:

When the Lord Jesus came, His whole purpose
and reason was to pay the penalty for our sin, to
appease the wrath of God, and to rise again from
the dead. His whole purpose was to make us what
He intends us to be. What does He intend us to be?
Well, you see, He is speaking there about freedom
for the prisoners, sight for the blind, release of
the oppressed. . . . It means this: He paid for our
sins; He bought us forgiveness. That’s what it’s all
about, real and genuine forgiveness so that He
could bring us into a right relationship with God,
with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rob explained this further by expounding the passage
in Isaiah 53:5 which states, “But He was wounded
for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by
His stripes we are healed” (NKJV). Moving on to 1 Peter 2:22–24, he showed how this passage gives us the correct understanding of the Isaiah passage:

He committed no sin, and no deceit was found
in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at
him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he
made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to
him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins
in his body on the tree, so that we might die to
sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you
have been healed (NIV).

As Rob preached on this particular passage, both the
content of the passage and the importance of interpreting
it properly became evident:

What’s the context here? That’s what we have
to examine. Let’s put the Bible back in context,
because a lot of people take verses out of context
and they will just apply them to whatever they
want. But the context here is this—that Peter is
talking about the death of the Lord Jesus Christ
for our sins. That’s the whole emphasis and that’s
what he gets out of Isaiah 53. In fact, when it says
“and by his wounds you have been healed,” the
Greek makes it clear that “you have been healed”
is in the passive tense. It means you have already
been healed.

Friends, you are all healed. The Bible tells us
that if you are in the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ
died to shed His blood so that you can be washed
clean from your sin. That’s the whole perspective
of it. That’s what it means. That’s the context of it
all. You already have been healed. You already have
been washed clean from your sin.

You have been restored to Christ, and it’s
now and not yet. Now we have the cleansing and
forgiveness. Yet to come is a new heaven and new
earth in which there will be no sicknesses and no
death. But the primary emphasis is definitely not
on physical healing now. Our primary focus here is
on the Lord Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection
for us. That’s what that verse means.

In fact, we know that the Lord Jesus went
out and healed people; He went out casting out
evil spirits; He went out raising people from the
dead. . . . He did that. He stopped the storm, didn’t
He? Remember that? In all of this, the Lord Jesus
is showing us that our restoration is to be spiritual.
That’s what He is talking about, that’s what He is
showing us. That our restoration is spiritual now.
Right now. Right now, you and I, through the
Lord Jesus Christ, are spiritually restored to God.
Right now, through the Lord Jesus, through His
death and His resurrection. But you see, it is now
and not yet. It is yet to come. . . . We are living
in a world where we are living now and not yet.
Now we are spiritually restored to God, spiritually
restored through the Lord Jesus Christ, yes, but it
is yet to come.

What is yet to come? What is yet to come is
a new heaven and a new earth. That is what we
are looking forward to. And in fact, that is where
our focus needs to be, friends, because in the new
heaven and the new earth the Lord Jesus, who
is righteousness, will dwell there, and we shall
dwell with Him. Isn’t that fantastic? We don’t
want to focus on this world; it’s a world ruined
by sin. We don’t want to focus on ourselves; we
are people who have been ruined by sin. We want
to focus on the new heaven and the new earth
that is yet to come. . . . In that new heaven and
new earth, there will be no sickness; there will be
no disease; there will be no demons; there will be
no death; there will be no chaos. . . . Everything
is going to be peaceful and perfect. Wonderful,
isn’t it? You see, now and not yet. Restored to
Christ today, yes—and yet to come is all that
we are looking forward to in the new heaven and
the new earth.

In fact, you see the New Testament emphasis
is not primarily on physical healing, but it is on
the power of the Holy Spirit who brings us into a
right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. That
is the primary aspect of the New Testament.

Right now, this spiritual healing from sin is about
relationship, a trusting relationship that is more valuable
than anything else on earth. Paul put this into words in
Philippians 3:8–10:

More than that, I count all things to be loss
in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ
Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and count them but rubbish so that
I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him,
not having a righteousness of my own derived
from the Law, but that which is through faith in
Christ, the righteousness which comes from God
on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and
the power of His resurrection and the fellowship
of His sufferings, being conformed to His death
(NAS95).

That relationship starts at the moment Christ comes
into our spirits and is cultivated until death. As Rob said,
it is now, but not yet. Yet to come is the final consummation
of all things, a complete and total healing for the
soul and the body and the world that ushers in a new
and never-ending era of unhindered intimacy with the
Creator. “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to
face,” says 1 Corinthians 13:12.

The Bible tells us that sometime in the future we will
see a restoring of the harmony that existed in Eden once
again. For example, Isaiah 11:6 says:

And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the
leopard will lie down with the kid, and the calf
and the young lion and the fatling together; and
a little boy will lead them.

In peace they will exist together, apparently as vegetarians
again. You have a little child. You have a viper . . . and they’re not frightened of each other; they won’t
harm each other. And you know what equates to that
situation? Righteousness and restoration. Acts 3:18–21
speaks of this restoration and where it fits in the big
picture:

But the things which God announced beforehand
by the mouth of all the prophets, that
His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
Repent therefore and return, that your sins may
be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing
may come from the presence of the Lord; and
that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed
for you, whom heaven must receive until the
period of restoration of all things about which
God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets
from ancient time.

Note that God is going to restore and He is going to
make all things new again. The standard to which we will
return is the one that existed so long ago in Eden. Everything
will be in balance once again—the groaning of
creation will cease and the righteousness that is equated
with peace and harmony with the animals and man will
be the norm again, just as it was before sin.

Might I ask, however, where we would be without
this foundation of hope? From Genesis we are able to
see the picture of how things were, telling us also of how
they will be. Only from the perfection of the past can
we tangibly hope in the promise of this glorious future.
Those who reject a literal Genesis have little to go on,
and will probably never understand the believer’s hope—the hope that life will again be as perfect as it once
was, but no longer is. How can there be a restoration
to such a perfect state when there never was one to start
with? Without this understanding there is no longing for
heaven, a grim outlook on life, lack of true joy, and the
beginning of a steady slide into spiritual bankruptcy and
lukewarmness.

The existence of Eden, as long ago as it was, gives
hope for the future. Between now and then, in a world
where death and sin are “normal,” this hope gives us faith
to face another day. I believe we are incapable of imagining
what heaven will be like, just as we are unable to truly
imagine what life was like in Eden before the Fall. We do
know that there will be no Curse (Revelation 22:3). In
this present sin-cursed world, we live in sin-ravaged bodies
that cause us to groan. But what an encouragement to
know that Christ will one day restore our bodies, and the
whole creation, to perfection!

We see a glimpse of the complete healing of all
creation that will take place through the ministry of
Christ and the Apostles. Of course, we wish this would
happen now—and at times, for His purposes, God
does ordain specific miraculous events to overcome the
consequences of the Curse. But at the right time, God
will bring this present era to a close, this great season of
suffering and death will end—and then, for all those
who do trust in Him, we will have that final healing.
Yes, we have a fraction of it now, but the completeness
of it is not yet.

Between Now and Then

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as
unwise men but as wise, making the most of your
time, because the days are evil. So then do not be
foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord
is (Ephesians 5:15–16).

Living as we are now (between “the Fall” and “the
consummation”), how then should we live? In the above
verse, Paul challenges us to live lives of wisdom and careful
progression. These would be lives that are lived in
truth, trust, and with a vision for eternity.

John 8:32 says, “You shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free.” This certainly is the case
when dealing with origins and the big picture of biblical
history (including a proper understanding of Eden,
the Fall, Christ, and the Cross, and the restoration that
will consummate all things). The truth about inevitability
of death sets us free as well. Because of what we know
through the revealed Word of God, we no longer need
to be bound by the fear of death. Having received the
gospel, we can even be expectant and looking forward to
what lies beyond the grave. Where do we find such truth?
Jesus himself is truth (John 14:6), and the Bible, we must
always remember, is truth as well (Psalm 119: (160)). Devotion
to its study and upholding its authority is central
to living a life of wisdom.

The grass withers, the flower fades, when the
breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people
are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the
word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:7–8).

A life of wisdom is also built on trust. We are to trust
in God as the Creator and sustainer of all existence, trust
in His immediate presence in our lives, and trust in His
continued provision as we seek to live lives of faith in the
midst of suffering and death.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses,
in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak then I am strong
(2 Corinthians 12:9–10; NIV).

Wisdom dictates that you not only trust in Him, but
that you also trust in who the Scriptures say you now
are in Christ. Between now and death, it will always be a
challenge to remember that the very presence of God is
not just with you, but is within you (John 14:17). Continually,
you will need to renew your minds according to
the biblical fact that you have been crucified with Him
and it is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives
in you (Galatians 2:20). When it is time to submit and
obey, you must be wise to recognize that God’s Spirit
himself gives you the power and the desire to do what is
right (John 15:5;; Philippians 4:13).

Again, in those times when wisdom fails and circumstances
tear at your heart . . . when the tears will not
cease and the grief will not lift . . . in those times there
will always be the need to bow the knee before God as
your only sovereign King and trust Him in spite of all
that you see and all that you feel. Then you can make
wise and godly decisions in this fallen world. We read in
Deuteronomy 30:19–20 how the Israelites were offered
a choice by God; it’s the same choice that you have day
by day:

I call heaven and earth to witness against you
today, that I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order
that you may live, you and your descendants, by
loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice,
and by holding fast to Him.

Finally, wisdom requires a vision for eternity. We
simply must accept the reality of our mortality and live
lives for the things that will never end. The Bible tells
us something that science knows very well. “The length
of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the
strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they
quickly pass, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10; NIV). We
consider someone who lives to 80 years old to have had
a long life. However, contemplate this: How long is 80
compared to eternity?Job 8:9 says, “We were born only
yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are
but a shadow” (NIV). Even though we live in time (and
to us the sufferings of a loved one like Rob seem so prolonged),
compared to eternity it’s not even a fleeting moment.
That does not in any way negate the trauma of it
all in this life, but we do need to put it all in perspective
and try to see more of the “big picture” as God has revealed
it in the Bible.

Suffering and death from sin is the universal norm,
and that should be a warning to us—a reminder that
our days are numbered. If we are wise, we will invest
the best of all our resources for things with eternal
significance.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where
thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do
not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure is, there your your
heart will be also (Matthew 6:19–21; NIV).

Lift up your eyes to the sky, then look to the
earth beneath; for the sky will vanish like smoke,
and the earth will wear out like a garment, and
its inhabitants will die in like manner. But My
salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness
shall not wane (Isaiah 51:6).

How important it is to put our trust in the living
and inerrant Word of God and live for worthy purposes.
Think about this! Eventually, you will die for what
you are living for, since eventually, you will die. It’s not
a matter of if you will die (we know that is a certainty).
It’s a matter of living for a cause that is worth dying
for.

For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth
pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall
pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished
(Matthew 5:18).

For I do not consider my life of any account
as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my
course, and the ministry which I received from the
Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the
grace of God (Acts 20:24).

From Genesis to Revelation

In the beginning, we know that God created the
heavens and the earth, and then man and woman. When
He was done, He said it was all exceptionally good. Sin
has polluted it all, but still a remnant remains . . . a shattered
reflection of the pure good that once was. We can
still see the beauty in nature and in art. Even human love
(as conditional and fickle as it is) can be a tainted remnant
of the perfect, unconditional love of God and a reminder
of the way things used to be in the Garden before
sin. In the song Echoes of Eden, Stephen Curtis Chapman
sings about human love, and how it is a shadow of the
pure intimacy we once had (and will have again) with
our Creator:

What is it about a kiss that makes me feel like this?
What is it that makes my heart beat faster when I’m in your arms?
What is it about your touch that amazes me so much?
How is it that your sweet smile can get me through the hardest mile?
What’s the magic in your eyes that brings the love in me alive?
What is it about this dance, the sweetness of our romance—that makes me feel this way?

These are the echoes of Eden,
Reflections of what we were created for
Hints of the passion and freedom
That waits on the other side of heaven’s door.
These are the echoes of Eden.

How is it the sky turns gray anytime you’re far away?
What is it that makes me sad anytime you’re feeling bad?
What is it about this night, the music and the candlelight,
That makes me feel this way?

These are the echoes of Eden,
Reflections of what we were created for
Hints of the passion and freedom
That waits on the other side of heaven’s door.
These are the echoes of Eden.

What is it about this night, the music, and the
candlelight that makes me feel this way?

These are the echoes of Eden,
Reflections of what we were created for
Hints of the passion and freedom
That waits on the other side of heaven’s door.
These are the echoes of Eden.

Between Eden and the new heaven and the new
earth, we will live for an unknown duration of time. In
the Book of Revelation, chapters 21 and 22, God gives the apostle John a vision for what will emerge from the
disease, destruction, and death of the present days. The
descriptions paint a picture of the future that awaits us.
Both the parallels and the contrast between what once
was and what will be are important:

. . . and He shall dwell among them, and they
shall be His people, and God Himself shall be
among them, and He shall wipe away every tear
from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any
death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or
crying, or pain; the first things have passed away
(Revelation 21:3–4).

And he showed me a river of the water of life,
clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God
and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. And on
either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing
twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month;
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of
the nations (Revelation 22:1–2).

The new heaven and the new earth: This is the great
hope for all who suffer in this fallen world. This is the
hope God leaves us in the closing chapters of the Bible
. . . and this is the hope that Rob left his congregation
at the end of his sermon. As I turned off the tape, I realized
that he had recorded this sermon only a few months
before “frontal lobe dementia” began to make him an extreme
illustration to his own message.

The Last “Goodbye”

The last time I saw my brother alive, I sat beside his
bed watching my mother lovingly caress his head. “I
wish he could just say ‘Mum’ one more time,” she said.
Instead there were times when her son (obviously not
knowing what he was doing) would push her away—seemingly to reject the loving hand that gently stroked
his cheek.

Unmoved, our mother continued to patiently feed
him his favorite drinks, instinctively hoping to satisfy his
hunger, perhaps giving him some joy and comfort—if
he could even experience such feelings in his embattled
state.

On the one hand,
I wanted to cry. On the other hand, I rejoiced that Rob
already had the most important healing of all.

I looked on with mixed emotion. On the one hand,
I wanted to cry. On the other hand, I rejoiced that Rob
already had the most important healing of all. His spiritual
healing from sin meant when he passed away from
this earth, he would be totally healed in eternity. Many
memories and many Bible verses passed though my mind
in those final minutes with him:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).

For our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all (2 Corinthians 4:17; NIV).

Knowing that this would probably be my final goodbye
to Robert, I bent over and kissed him on his forehead.
“Goodbye, Robert. I love you, brother,” I said. I
left the room holding back tears, but also departed with a
real peace—the kind of peace “which surpasses
all comprehension” (Philippians 4:7). The tears would come,
and then come again and again. Even today, I can’t think
about him for very long without feeling the loss and
reliving portions of the pain. . . . But those emotions I
know will one day cease as well, as every tear is wiped
away by Jesus . . . this I know, for the Bible says it’s so.
The question has been answered through the big picture
of God’s Holy Word. Why is there suffering and death?
Eden was lost to sin. I now live in a fallen world. But in
the future there will be a restoration and a healing that is
beyond the imagination. In the meantime, I know that
my brother is in the hands of His Creator, as I am . . . now, but not yet.

I held my mother closely as we walked down the
hallway, out the door of the nursing home, and toward
the car. Around us, people continued about their daily
business, boarding buses, coming out of stores with
armloads of goods, children laughing on their way
home from school. . . . it all looked so normal in the
bright sunlight. People were going to and fro, indifferent
and unaware of what was happening to my brother
Robert. But why should they? They didn’t know him or
know what was happening to him. Why should they
care?

But as I looked at them, I thought of the fact that
each one of them is, like Rob, going to face death one
day. Many of them will end up in nursing homes, aimlessly
staring at the wall, their minds tragically deteriorated
from the effects of disease. What is the purpose
of all that they are doing now if death is just the end
of it all? Is it all, in the end, futility? No, no it’s not.
In fact, it is all full of meaning, guided by the hand of
the God who not only created it all, but also causes it
all to work together for good—and soon enough He
will restore it all once again. We all will die, yes, but we
all will live for eternity either in heaven (the renewed
creation) with our Creator, or in hell, separated from
Him for eternity.

As I thought about this, I felt anew Robert’s passion
and the burden he felt to warn the world about the true
meaning of life and tell them the wonderful saving message
of the gospel. That’s what Rob would want me to feel, I
thought. They need to care—they need to face the reality
of death. At the car with my mother, I thought about
the fact that one day I’ll have to say goodbye to her also . . . and the fact that I too will someday finish my days
on this earth. Until then, suffering and death will be the
norm. But after that. . . .

There shall no longer be any curse; and the
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and
His bond-servants shall serve Him; they shall see
His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
And there shall no longer be any night; and they
shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the
light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine
them; and they shall reign forever and ever(Revelation 22:3–5).

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I
am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen (Revelation 22:20–21).

Questions for Group Discussion:

In Philippians 3:8–10, Paul said that knowing Christ
was more important than all other things. Review this
passage. Would you agree or disagree with him? Give
solid reasons for your answer.

If someone does not believe history as it is recorded
in Genesis, how might that affect their hope for the
future as prophesied in Revelation? Do you think
someone can hope in heaven without an understanding
of Eden? Why or why not?

When it comes to living wisely and making the most
of our days, do you think it is more important to have
truth, trust, or a vision for eternity?

Questions for Personal Reflection:

Find a quiet place where you can pray and read God’s
Word without interruption. Skim back through the
many passages of Scripture we have discussed in this
book, and review any notes you have from the group
discussions, the personal reflections, and the verses for
contemplation and memorization. Then read James 1:22–25. How do you think God wants to change
your life in light of all that He has shown you through
the Bible?

Bible Verses for Contemplation
and Memorization:

How Could A Loving God...?

With sensitivity to the person whose perception of God has been calloused by tragedy, apologist/Bible teacher Ken Ham makes clear the hope-giving answers found in the pages of Scripture. Be ready when hurting hearts need comfort. Sensitively sharing the reality of original sin—and all that it means—creates a vital foundation for Bible-based healing in the midst of crisis.

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Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively. We focus on providing answers to questions about the Bible—particularly the book of Genesis—regarding key issues such as creation, evolution, science, and the age of the earth.